By Jesse Williams/Zip06.com • 04/20/2021 04:30 p.m. EST
Of the many heartbreaking things that the pandemic has disallowed people from doing, helping others is maybe one of the hardest ones. For the second year in a row, The Pilgrim Fellowship, a youth service club at First Congregational Church, has had to cancel its traditional spring break mission trip to Appalachia, where in the past the members have worked to fix dilapidated houses for families in a poverty-stricken part of the country.
While that loss will certainly be felt, Pilgrim Director Judi Wallace said her group of youngsters were determined to dedicate some of their precious spring break time this year to helping those in need, and were able to find a couple special ways to do that right here in Connecticut.
The project saw younger members of Pilgrim building outdoor furniture and decorations that will be donated to allow outdoor meetings and relaxation for people living in transitional housing, according to Wallace.
“Without being able to travel or go on a family vacation...I think it was just a great space for them to be able to be in community with their peers and do something that felt important and worthwhile, in a safe way,” Wallace said.
While older members of Pilgrim Fellowship were able to work with United Way, driving into New Haven to assist with building houses there for their act of service, those 16 years old or younger, or those without transportation, couldn’t participate in that program.
Building the furniture (with the guidance of older members of the community who have woodworking experience) fulfilled the same spiritual goal of service, Wallace said, along with facilitating the important pandemic-related cause of allowing safe socializing.
About 60 young people participated over the course of the week-long break, and ended up making 14 picnic tables, 14 chairs, and 21 birdhouses, Wallace said, all of which will end up at transitional housing complexes created by New Haven-based non-profit New Reach.
According to its website, New Reach provides emergency short-term housing as well as longer-term homes for people at acute risk of homelessness, totaling about 100 units. Wallace said New Reach could more comfortably and easily facilitate various kinds of recreational or dialogue with residents using the outdoor furniture.
In Guilford, another benefit was being able to socialize safely with peers and get outdoors even in the occasionally glum weather, Wallace said. She added that kids were “itching” for opportunities like this—to spend some relaxed time with each other and work together to help people in need.
Pilgrim Fellowship is additionally planning a shorter summer trip to Boston in July—as always, assuming that the pandemic allows it. Even though the group is always happy to help out closer to home, Wallace said she is eager for the fellowship to get back out into the world to support their neighbors further afield.
We are “really hoping that by next April we will be off and running again,” she said, laughing.
For more information on Pilgrim Fellowship and First Congregational Church, visit firstchurchguilford.org/get-connected/youth-and-pilgrim-fellowship.
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